Stanley Cup Playoffs

The thought going into this series was that the Minnesota Wild finally had enough depth on their roster to compete with, and beat, the Chicago Blackhawks in the playoffs. Instead it was the Blackhawks showing the Wild that they still have a long way to go.

The Minnesota Wild understands that Game 3 when you are down 2-0 in a series is almost like a Game 7. If you lose, it’s all but over. WCCO’s Mike Max was at the Wild’s morning skate and found out what adjustments the team pans to make for Game 3.

There has been no shortage fan support at Eagle Street Bar ahead of Tuesday’s Wild game, but because of the last two games, there is some extra tension. A licensed professional said on a night like this, positive fans are a big key.

The Minnesota Wild announced Tuesday that two schools won the inaugural “Wild Playoff Spirit” Contest. The winners were Westview Elementary School in Apple Valley and Minnewaska Area Elementary School in Glenwood.

The first period of Game 1 versus Chicago couldn’t have started worse for the Minnesota Wild. The Blackhawks had the Wild skating on its heels and the defense looked lost on the ice. It only took 1:15 before Brandon Saad scored to give Chicago a 1-0 lead.

The Minnesota Wild is encouraging schools across Minnesota to get into the playoff spirit. The team has set up a contest for elementary, middle or high schools to come up with the best sign supporting the Wild as the team gears up to face the Chicago Blackhawks Friday night.

One of the fun things about the Stanley Cup Playoffs is watching to see who on the third and fourth lines, steps up and makes a name. The Minnesota Wild is deep, and one of the people who has made his presence known is Justin Fontaine.

Zach Parise and the Minnesota Wild have all week to prepare for the Western Conference semifinals and their rematch with the Chicago Blackhawks. Last year, after beating the Colorado Avalanche in Game 7 of that first-round series, the Wild had to hustle off to Chicago to play two days later.

The Minnesota Wild announced Tuesday the schedule for its Western Conference Semifinal series in the Stanley Cup Playoffs with the Chicago Blackhawks. Game 1 will be at 8:30 p.m. Friday in Chicago. Game 2 will be at 7:30 p.m. Sunday, also in Chicago.

Minnesota Wild fans are waiting to hear when the playoff push will continue. The announcement could come Monday night. For area businesses, home games mean large crowds and even larger profits. Reg Chapman explored more on how a packed Xcel Center means big dollars for businesses.

With the Minnesota Wild advancing to the second round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs, the most common question being asked isn’t, “Is this the year we finally beat the Chicago Blackhawks?” It’s, “When does the series start?”

The St. Louis Blues came into Game 6 knowing they needed to play their best game of the series for their season to continue. And yet it was the Minnesota Wild who played like they had no interest in going back to the “Show-Me-State” for a seventh game.

Minnesota was killing an early penalty when Zach Parise snagged a loose puck in the neutral zone, raced away from St. Louis and triggered a huge roar from the home crowd with his highlight-reel goal off a bad-angle shot. That was a bad sign for the Blues. Game 6 belonged to Parise and the Wild.

Momentum is a funny thing in hockey. One minute you are dominating play, keeping all the action in the offensive zone. The next, a puck is deflecting off a goaltenders glove into the net and momentum starts to slowly go away.

The Minnesota Wild will try to put Wednesday night behind them, as they face the Blues in St. Louis Friday night in Game 5 of their Stanley Cup Playoff series. Wild fans, St. Paul’s mayor included, are also trying to move on.